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| Monkey Woman |
September 17, 2003
The Rolling Stones gather no gas as they come clean into Scotland
(from RS.com News section)
THE Rolling Stones begin the Scottish leg of their European Licks tour tonight by proving that rock ’n’ roll is not a gas.
The ageing rock band have shown their green credentials by striking a deal with telecommunications company T-Mobile and Future Forests to fund two new Highland forests in Skye and Easter Ross, planted to offset carbon dioxide emissions from their nine days of UK touring.
It is the first time an entire tour has been made "carbon neutral".
It has been estimated that during a tour, travel between gigs for the band and their public equates to a global average of 13 kilogrammes of carbon dioxide per fan.
About 90 per cent of the emissions are created by the fans’ travel to the venue. On average, the price works out at 15p per ticket and it will take one tree to offset the emissions from 57 fans. Over the nine dates the band will perform to almost 160,000 fans, meaning more than 2,800 trees will be planted.
Dan Morrell, president and founder of Future Forests, said: "Everything we do, from going to a gig through driving a car to boiling a kettle, creates carbon dioxide yet there is still a lot of inertia in the public’s attitude.
"The music industry is rallying to create proactive action on climate change, empowering fans to take positive steps to offset their CO2 emissions in an affordable way that radically changes the way people think and act."
The new woodlands will be in the Orbost in Skye, where birch, oak, rowan, alder and willow will be planted, and at Balblair, near Tain, which will be mainly Scots pine and birch to attract endangered capercaillie and black grouse.
The Stones’ connection could result in the new forests becoming tourist attractions in the same way that a woodland planted in memory of the Clash frontman Joe Strummer is attracting visitors to Skye.
More than 2,000 world-wide fans have paid £8.50 each to plant trees at Orbost to create Rebel’s Wood, the name chosen by Strummer’s wife to honour the star who died in December last year. He helped to start Future Forests, after a discussion at the Glastonbury Festival in 1996, out of a concern that bands were adding to global warming due to carbon emissions from tour buses, equipment lorries, and CD pressing and distribution.
He is regarded as being the world’s first "carbon-neutral" artist.
Today such artists as Coldplay, the Foo Fighters and Pink Floyd are all carbon-neutral, as are 30 million CDs.
Brian McBride, managing director of T-Mobile, said: "Working alongside the biggest names in entertainment in an environment-conscious manner helps us to ensure that our customers get the best services delivered in a socially responsible way."
The Stones began their tour last September in Boston. The European leg began in the UK last week. Total receipts are expected to out-gross the £160 million earned by their previous world tour.
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| glencar |
What a nice gesture. I've had to take down some trees this yera. Perhaps I'll plant a few to make up for what's gone. |
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